Demystifying Pregnancy: Physiology, Policy and Politics

A unique course designed to educate future leaders in diverse fields on maternal health and pregnancy related issues. We encourage enrollment for students of all majors and genders. Students will learn strategies for searching and evaluating health information. We will discuss behavioral, social, cultural and economic factors that affect maternal and fetal wellbeing, along with the impact of health disparities, health promotion, disease prevention strategies and future health challenges. Material will include introductory basic science of maternal and fetal physiology, prenatal care, labor and birth, breastfeeding, nutrition and exercise, the pregnant athlete, advanced maternal age, assisted reproduction, surrogacy, teratogens, toxins and environmental change, genetics and epigenetics. We will touch on potentially controversial topics such as prenatal diagnostic testing, ethics and health policy, access to care and health disparities in both fetal and maternal outcomes, homelessness and incarceration, domestic violence and reproductive coercion, teen pregnancy, LGBTQ pregnancy, BMI and eating disorders, substance abuse, problems related to employment, cultural beliefs, myths misconceptions, pregnancy in history as shown in art, and issues of the future. Prerequisites are not necessary. This is meant to be an introductory course for non science majors who wish to incorporate knowledge of maternal health into their future careers as policy makers and thought leaders.